In early 2024, a seemingly small change at Activision Blizzard’s Stockholm office—the removal of a popular employee benefit—unexpectedly ignited a powerful unionization effort. Microsoft, Activision Blizzard’s new owner, eliminated a highly valued perk: a dedicated, on-site doctor for employees and their families. This decision, communicated with only a week's notice, prompted widespread discontent among staff who had come to rely heavily on this resource, particularly given its value during the COVID-19 pandemic. While a replacement health insurance plan was offered, employees felt it lacked the personal touch and immediate accessibility of their previous arrangement.
This unexpected loss of a cherished benefit galvanized over one hundred employees at King’s Stockholm location to form a union club with Unionen, Sweden’s largest trade union, in the fall of 2024. This action followed a growing trend within the Swedish gaming industry, with similar unionization efforts already underway at companies like Paradox Interactive and Avalanche Studios. The group aims to secure a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to protect their working conditions, policies, and benefits.
The Swedish union landscape differs significantly from that of the U.S. Swedish workers can join a union regardless of company-level organization, resulting in a high unionization rate (approximately 70%). Unions negotiate industry-wide standards, but forming a company-specific union club allows for negotiating additional workplace benefits and influencing company decisions. This is precisely the goal of the newly formed King Stockholm union.
Prior to the benefit cut, union activity at King Stockholm was minimal. However, the controversy surrounding the doctor’s removal sparked a surge in interest, with the union’s Slack channel rapidly expanding from a handful of members to over 200. This galvanized action led to the official formation of the union club in October 2024. While Microsoft has publicly committed to a neutral stance towards unions, the King Stockholm union is focused on securing a CBA to protect existing benefits and address concerns about salary transparency, company reorganizations, layoffs, and overall workplace influence.
Kajsa Sima Falck, an engineering manager and union board member, emphasizes the importance of preserving King’s unique culture and benefits, many of which are uncommon in Sweden. The union also aims to educate employees, particularly those from diverse international backgrounds, about their rights and the benefits of collective bargaining. Timo Rybak, a Unionen Stockholm organizer, highlights the value of employee input in shaping workplace policies, emphasizing that unionization provides a platform for sharing vital on-the-ground perspectives often missing from upper management's view. For Falck and her colleagues, the union’s formation, though initially sparked by a negative event, represents a proactive step towards securing a more equitable and supportive work environment.
